Cidade da Criança

Cidade da Criança, meaning “Children's City,” is a municipal amusement park in central São Bernardo do Campo, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. It occupies land beside the former Vera Cruz film-studio complex and is recognized as the first theme park in Brazil and Latin America when it opened to the public on October 10, 1968. Its origins are unusual: the site was first developed in the 1950s as an outdoor production set for Redenção, a television soap opera produced by TV Excelsior. The production required a constructed interior-São Paulo town, including a church, police station, courthouse, railway station, and residential buildings. After filming ended, the set remained available to the public and became the basis for a larger leisure attraction. The site is also associated with the first Brazilian film city. After the television production ended in 1968, São Bernardo do Campo entered into a public-private arrangement to add attractions and operate the site as a park. The attraction was reformed in 1970 and expanded between 1971 and 1976. During the 1970s and 1980s it reached its strongest attendance and became a prominent regional destination for families. Its design combined amusement rides with themed environments, including an Amazon area containing reproductions of the Amazon Theatre and the Madeira-Mamoré Railroad. Other recognizable attractions included a submarine, an aircraft, the Minhocão roller coaster, and the Casa Maluca or Crazy House. The submarine attraction used a water tank reported at 2.75 million liters and was presented as an early installation of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The park later declined as newer leisure destinations, notably Playcenter and Hopi Hari, intensified competition in the São Paulo region. Maintenance and safety problems became increasingly important. São Bernardo do Campo City Hall closed the park in 2005, citing safety deficiencies and inadequate maintenance of equipment. The municipality considered converting the property into an educational park, but a proposed allocation of education resources encountered opposition from the São Paulo State Court of Auditors because the plan was not supported by a sufficiently developed pedagogical project. The municipality subsequently considered a concession model for park operation and maintenance. Cidade da Criança reopened on January 17, 2010, after a five-year closure. The reopening was criticized because visitors expected a comprehensively renewed park but found only a limited selection of operating attractions. Reports described 18 attractions available on opening day, while the simulator was closed after an air-conditioning failure. The municipal administration subsequently proposed additional rides, including a mini roller coaster, Splash attraction, elevator, Ferrari Carousel, bumper cars, Twist, and a Ferris wheel. The cable car and submarine were still unavailable at the initial reopening. The park also has a civic-education program known as the Mirim Town Hall. Through elections conducted with São Bernardo do Campo City Hall, pupils in the fourth and fifth years of elementary education may serve as a child mayor for a voluntary two-year term. The role includes attending periodic meetings with the municipal tourism and events department, forwarding suggestions and complaints from park users, and preparing a final report. In 2020, the municipality closed Cidade da Criança during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other municipal parks, beginning March 21 and continuing under public-health and security protocols through October 10. The park's present operating status is not established by the supplied sources.

Cidade da Criança developed from a television-production environment rather than from a conventional amusement-park project. During the 1950s, land in São Bernardo do Campo was used to construct an interior-town setting for Redenção, a TV Excelsior soap opera. The set occupied approximately 37,742 square meters and included civic and transport buildings designed to support the program's fictional setting. The resulting complex was also regarded as Brazil's first film city. When production ended in 1968, the property was returned to the municipality. Instead of dismantling the entire setting, the city used it as the foundation for a public attraction. On October 10, 1968, Cidade da Criança opened as what is described as Brazil's and Latin America's first theme park. The municipality entered a public-private arrangement to install and manage attractions. The park was renovated in 1970 and expanded from 1971 through 1976. Its appeal came from a combination of rides, replicas, themed spaces, and the novelty of exploring a preserved production town. An Amazon-themed zone included reproductions associated with the region, while a large submarine attraction, aircraft, roller coaster, and Casa Maluca became among the park's best-known features. Attendance was strongest during the 1970s and 1980s. Over time, however, the park faced competition from larger or newer São Paulo-area amusement destinations, including Playcenter and Hopi Hari. Declining attendance was accompanied by concerns about the condition and maintenance of attractions. In 2005, São Bernardo do Campo City Hall closed the site because of safety and equipment-maintenance problems. The municipality explored an educational conversion, but a proposed transfer of education funds was rejected by the São Paulo State Court of Auditors because the initiative was not based on a sufficiently developed educational plan. A concession tender for operation and maintenance was then considered. After approximately five years of closure, the park reopened on January 17, 2010. The reopening generated negative press and visitor criticism because the extent of the renovation did not match public expectations. Only 18 attractions were reported to be available, and the simulator was closed on the opening day after an air-conditioning breakdown. The cable car and submarine were also not operating at that stage. The administration proposed a further program of attractions, including a mini roller coaster called Minhocão, Splash, an elevator, Ferrari Carousel, bumper cars, Twist, and a Ferris wheel. The site's heritage value was formally acknowledged in 1990, when the land and built area associated with the Redenção recordings were listed by São Bernardo do Campo's Municipal Council of Historical and Cultural Heritage. The park therefore functions both as a leisure venue and as a surviving reminder of Brazilian television and film production. Cidade da Criança has also been used for civic-learning activities. The Mirim Town Hall program allows children from the fourth and fifth grades of public or private schools to elect a child mayor. The position is voluntary, lasts two years, and involves meetings with the municipal tourism and events department, communication of user suggestions, and a concluding report. This program extends the park's identity beyond rides by presenting it as a place for public participation and informal education. On July 24, 2019, a visitor died after falling from the Brocumela children's roller coaster. The incident prompted police inquiries into emergency arrangements and documentation, and the ride was taken out of operation while the cause was examined. The park issued a statement expressing sympathy and awaiting expert and medical findings; municipal officials stated that the site had fire-department authorization and met operating standards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipality closed Cidade da Criança from March 21, 2020, until October 10 under security and health protocols. The supplied references do not establish the park's current operational status.

• 2020

  COVID-19 closure

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  The municipality closes the park from March 21 through October 10 under pandemic-related measures.

• 2019

  Brocumela accident

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  A fatal fall from the children's roller coaster leads to police investigation and the temporary removal of the ride from service.

• 2010

  Reopening after renovation

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  The park reopens on January 17, with a limited attraction lineup and plans for further additions.

• 2005

  Park closes for safety and maintenance reasons

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  City Hall closes the park and begins considering educational reuse and alternative operating arrangements.

• 1990

  Historic and cultural listing

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  The municipal heritage council lists the land and built area associated with the Redenção production.

• 1971

  Expansion period begins

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  A multi-year expansion program begins and continues through 1976.

• 1970

  First major reform

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  The park undergoes a reform as the municipality develops its attraction base.

• 1968

  Cidade da Criança opens

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  The attraction opens on October 10 and is described as Brazil's and Latin America's first theme park.

• 1950

  Redenção production set is constructed

  [1]Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org

  A fictional interior-São Paulo town is built on municipal land for TV Excelsior's soap opera Redenção, creating the physical foundation of the future park.

A historic, family-oriented municipal amusement park combining rides, themed attractions, educational programming, and the preserved legacy of a television and film-production site.

• Amusement attraction

  Submarine attraction

  A signature attraction built around a submarine replica and a reported 2.75-million-liter water installation. It was presented as an early attraction of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and became one of the park's most recognizable features, although it was not operating at the initial 2010 reopening.

• Roller coaster

  Minhocão

  A compact roller coaster associated with the park's family-oriented ride offering. A mini version was included among the attractions proposed for the post-2010 renewal program.

• Themed environment

  Amazon-themed area

  A themed zone inspired by the Amazon region, featuring reproductions such as the Amazon Theatre and the Madeira-Mamoré Railroad together with other regional motifs.

• Family attraction

  Casa Maluca

  The park's Crazy House attraction, one of the named attractions associated with its historic amusement-park offering.

• Educational program

  Mirim Town Hall

  A civic-participation program conducted with São Bernardo do Campo City Hall. Children in the fourth and fifth grades elect a child mayor for a voluntary two-year term, attend periodic meetings, communicate user suggestions, and prepare a final report.

• 2019

  Fatal Brocumela roller-coaster incident

  On July 24, 2019, Ilma Pereira fell from the Brocumela children's roller coaster and later died from head trauma. Police investigated whether the park had adequate emergency structures and safety documentation. The attraction was kept closed while the circumstances were clarified, and the municipality maintained that the park had fire-department authorization and complied with operating standards.

  Source

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• 2020

  Temporary pandemic closureOther

  Background

  Brazil's COVID-19 outbreak led São Bernardo do Campo to close municipal parks.

  Action taken

  Cidade da Criança was closed from March 21 until October 10 under health and security protocols.

  Aftermath

  The supplied references do not establish the park's subsequent operating status.

  Source

• 2010

  Reopen with a staged attraction-renewal programStrategy

  Background

  After a five-year closure, the municipality reopened the park, but visitors and press criticized the limited number of available attractions and the failure of the simulator on opening day.

  Action taken

  The administration proposed adding rides including Minhocão, Splash, Ferrari Carousel, bumper cars, Twist, and a Ferris wheel.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not document the complete implementation or long-term result of the proposed additions.

  Source

• 2005

  Close the park and evaluate educational reuseStrategy

  Background

  The municipality cited safety and maintenance deficiencies, while several attractions operated by third parties were reportedly in poor condition.

  Action taken

  City Hall closed Cidade da Criança and explored converting it into an educational site before considering a concession for operation and maintenance.

  Aftermath

  The educational conversion encountered an audit objection concerning the lack of a sufficiently developed pedagogical project, and the park eventually reopened in 2010.

  Source

1. 1Cidade da Criançaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cidade da Criança official websitecidadedascriancas.com.br